Virtual reality cardiac training device

ABSTRACT

A virtual reality cardiac training device comprising a primary audiovisual playback device, a secondary audio playback device, and a virtual reality display device capable of reproducing both video and audio. The device is used in combination with prerecorded audiovisual recordings of sporting events made from a first-person perspective such that when played back on the device, the impression of the user&#39;s participation in the sporting event is created.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This Invention relates to a device and method for enhancingcardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise has been repeatedlyshown to improve health and life expectancy of individuals. However, theeffort required to engage in cardiovascular exercise and levels ofboredom associated with the use of exercise machines is a majorpsychological barrier hindering individuals from participating in suchexercise. The present invention helps to overcome this psychologicalbarrier by creating a motivational environment for an individualexercising with an exercise machine that simulates the individual'sparticipation in a live sporting event.

Prior efforts to alleviate user boredom have focused generally onlinking an exercise machine with some audiovisual display device in anarrangement by which the exercise machine must be operated in order tooperate the audiovisual display device. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.4,161,630; 5,246,411; 4,278,095; 4,512,566; 5,374,227; 4,692,004. All ofthese devices have inherent limitations in their effectiveness,including high costs and non-portability between different exercisemachines. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing anexerciser with a portable system that may be used independently from anyexercise machine. The present invention also provides a superiormotivational environment through the increased sensory input afforded bythe created virtual reality, which creates the impression that the useris a participant in a sporting event rather than a mere spectator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention involves a method and device for stimulating anindividual's participation in cardiovascular exercise by providing theindividual with a virtual reality which simulates the individual'sparticipation in real sporting events, for instance, the Boston Marathonor the cycling competition of the Tour de France. The apparatuscomprises several distinct components, including (1) a primary playbackdevice capable of playing a prerecorded audiovisual program; (2) asecondary playback device capable of playing digital audio program(s)selected and programmed by the user; (3) a recording of a sporting eventon a recording medium readable by the primary playback device; and (4) avirtual reality display device, including both video display and audioreproduction equipment combined in a wearable headset.

In the preferred embodiment, the primary playback device comprises aportable digital versatile disc player similar to portable compact discplayers that are currently commercially available. In anotherembodiment, the primary playback device comprises a tape playback unitcapable of playing 8 mm videotapes. In any of the embodiments, therecording of a sporting event is on a medium capable of being used withthe primary playback device. The secondary playback unit of thepreferred embodiment comprises a programmable memory card (known in theart as “flash memory”) of at least 64 megabyte capacity which can beprogrammed by the user and which supports the major file formatstandards used in the art for digital audio programs. The audio signalsof both the primary and secondary playback devices are combined, givingthe user the ability to experience both the sounds of a sporting event(generated by the primary playback device) as well as music or othersound to which the user desires to listen (generated by the secondaryplayback device). Those skilled in the art will understand how tocombine the audio signals of the primary and secondary playback devicesfor output to the virtual reality display device.

Finally, the virtual reality display device of the preferred embodimentcomprises some form of headgear (either helmet or headband) with both avisual display device and an audio reproduction device mounted to theheadgear. The preferred virtual reality display device includes twosmall LCD screens mounted in a goggle-type arrangement in front of theuser's eyes. The audio reproduction device includes a pair of speakersmounted to the headgear such that one speaker is positioned directlyover each of the user's ears. The overall virtual reality display deviceis thus capable of receiving both a video input signal (from the primaryplayback device) as well as an audio input signal (from a combination ofthe audio signals of both the primary and secondary playback devices.)Such virtual reality display devices currently exist and will befamiliar to those in the art. This virtual reality display device willprovide a user with stereo audio and video. Due to the proximity of theaudio and video devices to the user's eyes and ears, the virtual realitydisplay device will overwhelm the user's actual environment with thatproduced by the primary and secondary playback devices, giving theimpression that the user is actually present and participating in theprerecorded sporting event.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a user wearing the invention while using an exercisetreadmill.

FIG. 2 shows a user wearing the invention while using a stationarycycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show users actually operating embodiments of the inventionin conjunction with stationary exercise machines. Referring particularlyto FIGS. 1 and 2, one can see a user 22 wearing a virtual realitydisplay device 12 and an audiovisual playback device 10 while using astationary exercise machine 24. The audiovisual playback device 10further comprises both a primary playback device 100 and a secondaryplayback device 102, neither of which are depicted in the drawings butwhich will be understood by those skilled in the art. Said primaryplayback device further comprises means 101 for generating both an audioand a video signal from a prerecorded medium 104. The prerecorded medium104 contains a recording in either digital format (including, but notlimited to, digital versatile disc, digital tape, or compact disc) or inanalog format (including, but not limited to, analog video tape). Saidsecondary playback device 102 further comprises means 103 for generatingan audio signal from a preprogrammed digital storage medium 106(including, but not limited to, “flash” memory cards). The audiovisualplayback device 10 further comprises means 108 for combining the audiosignals of the primary playback device and the secondary playbackdevice; said means are not depicted but will be understood by thoseskilled in the art.

The virtual reality display device 12 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 furthercomprises either a helmet 14 or a headband 16. Mounted to either thehelmet 14 or headband 16 are a visual display 18 and a pair of speakers20. One will understand that the visual display 18 further consists of apair of visual output units. Such virtual reality display devicescurrently exist and will be understood by those skilled in the art.See., e.g., U.S. patent Nos.

In all embodiments of the invention, the user 22 places a prerecordedmedium 104 into the primary playback device 100 of the audiovisualplayback device 10. The user may also place a preprogrammed digitalstorage medium 106 into the secondary playback device of the audiovisualplayback device 10 if desired. The preprogrammed digital storage medium106 may contain any user-programmed digital audio materials that theuser 22 may desire to listen to while using the invention. Theprerecorded medium 104 contains a recording of a sporting event takenfrom the perspective of a participant in the event. The prerecordedmedium 104 contains the recording of the sporting event at a variety ofplayback speeds such that the user 22 can select a playback speedsimulating the pace at which the user 22 desires to exercise. Duringplayback, the means 108 combines the audio signals of the primaryplayback device 100 and secondary playback device 102 into a singleaudio signal. The user 22 is therefore able to listen both to the soundsof the sporting event as well as the user's own music, thereby enhancingthe desired motivational experience.

In all embodiments of the invention, the video signal and combined audiosignal of the audiovisual playback device 10 are transmitted to thevirtual reality display device 12. The virtual reality display device 12converts these images into motion pictures and sounds through its visualdisplay 18 and speakers 20. To increase stability in order to counterthe motion of the user 22 while exercising, the virtual reality displaydevice 12 may be mounted either to a helmet 14 or a headband 16, orboth. In either case, the proximity of the visual display 18 andspeakers 20 to the user's eyes and ears, respectively, create theimpression that the user 22 is physically present and participating inthe sporting event recorded on the prerecorded medium 104.

Catalogue of Elements

10 Audiovisual playback device

12 Virtual reality display device

14 Helmet

16 Headband

18 Visual display

20 Speaker

22 User

24 Stationary exercise machine

100 Primary playback device

101 Means for generating audio and visual signals

102 Secondary playback device

103 Means for generating audio signal

104 Prerecorded medium

106 Preprogrammed digital storage medium

108 Means for combining audio signals

1. A virtual reality cardiac training device comprising: (a) anaudiovisual player further comprising (i) a primary playback devicecapable of producing an audio signal and a video signal from aprerecorded audiovisual medium; (ii) a secondary playback device capableof producing a secondary audio signal from a preprogrammed digital audiomedium; and (iii) means for combining said audio signal from saidprimary playback device and said secondary audio signal from saidsecondary playback device; (b) said prerecorded audiovidual medium; and(c) a virtual reality display device capable of displaying both audioand video signals produced by said audiovisual player.
 2. The machine ofclaim 1, wherein said virtual reality display device comprises a headsetto which are mounted both a visual display system and an audioreproduction system.
 3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said headsetfurther comprises a headband and overhead strap.
 4. The machine of claim2, wherein said headset further comprises a helmet.
 5. The machine ofclaim 1, wherein said playback device is a digital versatile diskplayer, a compact disk player, a videocassette player, or an 8 mmvideocassette player.
 6. The machine of claim 2, wherein said playbackdevice is a digital versatile disk player, a compact disk player, avideocassette player, or an 8 mm videocassette player.
 7. The machine ofclaim 1, wherein said prerecorded audiovisual medium contains anaudiovisual recording of a sporting event made from the perspective of aparticipant in said sporting event.
 8. The machine of claim 2, whereinsaid prerecorded audiovisual medium contains an audiovisual recording ofa sporting event made from the perspective of a participant in saidsporting event.
 9. The machine of claim 3, wherein said prerecordedaudiovisual medium contains an audiovisual recording of a sporting eventmade from the perspective of a participant in said sporting event. 10.The machine of claim 4, wherein said prerecorded audiovisual mediumcontains an audiovisual recording of a sporting event made from theperspective of a participant in said sporting event.
 11. The machine ofclaim 5, wherein said prerecorded audiovisual medium contains anaudiovisual recording of a sporting event made from the perspective of aparticipant in said sporting event.
 12. The machine of claim 6, whereinsaid prerecorded audiovisual medium contains an audiovisual recording ofa sporting event made from the perspective of a participant in saidsporting event.
 13. The machine of claim 7 wherein said audiovisualrecording is recorded on said prerecorded audiovisual medium at morethan one playback speed.
 14. The machine of claim 8 wherein saidaudiovisual recording is recorded on said prerecorded audiovisual mediumat more than one playback speed.
 15. The machine of claim 9 wherein saidaudiovisual recording is recorded on said prerecorded audiovisual mediumat more than one playback speed.
 16. The machine of claim 10 whereinsaid audiovisual recording is recorded on said prerecorded audiovisualmedium at more than one playback speed.
 17. The machine of claim 11wherein said audiovisual recording is recorded on said prerecordedaudiovisual medium at more than one playback speed.
 18. The machine ofclaim 12 wherein said audiovisual recording is recorded on saidprerecorded audiovisual medium at more than one playback speed.